The Japanese-American co-production IPGX: Immortal Grand Prix began as a series of five-minute interstitials and was later expanded to a half-hour program. In 2049, the world's most popular sport is IPGX, a mixture of Roll... more &raquoer Derby and Evangelion: Three pilots in mecha suits race and fight on a special 60-mile track at speeds of up to 350 mph. Team Satomi has just graduated to the top-ranked IG-1 circuit, where they face more intense competition. Takeshi is a typically rebellious but determined lead pilot, backed by hot-tempered Liz and Amy, whose cat serves as her co-pilot. As they debut in the big leagues, the trio deals with interpersonal conflicts and pursues minimal training. The character and mecha designs reflect the look of anime, but the personalities feel more American. Liz behaves more aggressively, not to say obnoxiously, than a female team member in a Japanese series would. If these episodes are any guide, IPGX is a tepid effort to fuse two very different schools of animated filmmaking. The uncut version includes the Japanese dialogue, the original theme songs, and three extras: an interview with Haley Joel Osment (the voice of Takeshi), an interview with two of the American producers, and a commentary on episode 3. (Rated 13 and older: violence, alcohol use, minor ethnic stereotyping) --Charles Solomon&laquo less

Movie Reviews

IGPX: An Underdog Anime wins!

NekoTakuto | 02/06/2006

(5 out of 5 stars)

"IGPX...hmmLast year, the original IGPX was broadcast on Toonami in 4-5 five minute episodes for a total of like a 20 minute special. It didn't involve racing but did involve it being a team sports. Instead of racing it was just simple fighting.

NOW:The news of this new iGPX was that it was being coproduced by the US (Cartoon Network) with the Japanese studio. I had very low expectations for this anime, I had seen how the Jetix Original shows had been and...*shudders*

A few weekends ago was the premiere. I was pretty impressed; I liked it. From a basic perspective, it's an average anime. However there was something about it...maybe becauser it doesn't involve a saving-the-world plot? the sports like feel? the overally bearable dubbing quality?

I do know one reason for sure I like it; its pacing. It manages to get a lot in one episode without feeling too rushed. Usually with a few stories going at once and/or one half of a race and another half of another one. It flows really nicely from my view.- LazerBlader"

First Episode Impressions

Antonio D. Paolucci | Beaver Falls, PA | 12/31/2005

(5 out of 5 stars)

"IGPX (Immortal Grand Prix) is a huge international accomplishment. It's proof that the world is expanding, that Americans in particular are expanding, and that the tolerance for anime is increasing. Toonami and Production I.G. teamed up to make Toonami's first original anime, and there can't be any better team to have done this. Toonami has been doing everything in their power for years to spread the anime craze in the United States, and they are one of the top reasons why anime is what it is today. Production I.G., one of the top studios in Japan, the producers of Ghost in the Shell, GitS: Stand Alone Complex, GitS: Innocence, Blood and the future Blood+, as well as having contributed to Kill Bill V. 1, have as good a resume as can be found.

IGPX ranks well in terms of quality right alongside some of those series and movies stated earlier. The animation here is fluid, so fluid in fact that a couple of times I thought I was watching a real live person. The CG mixes well with the 2D animation, and no studio I thought has ever done it as well as Gonzo, but IGPX is one example of doing it just as well if not better. Toonami and Bandai played its part as well by providing some of the absolute best voice-actors possible, including Michelle Rodriguez, Haley Joel Osment, and Mark Hamill, not to mention those veteran anime voices that can be found in all the top Americanized anime, Spike's voice-actor for one; I only wish I could remember his name.

The story itself centers around a young IGPX team known as Team Satomi, whose sponsor of the same name seems to be the only person to keep the immature heads together. At the opening of the first episode, the team is qualifying for IG1, the top league in the IGPX circuits. Yet the teams immaturity constantly threatens to break them apart. Rarely are the three team members (and one bench warmer) together without getting into a fight. I wish I had seen more of the series to say more good things about it, but maybe that's a good thing, to prevent spoilers.

I will say that this anime should be watched, and bought, by all true anime fans out there. It may be one of those "mainstream" animes, but it's a very important anime, as it perhaps hints at a bright future for American and Japanese animation. I highly recommend this DVD. It shouldn't be missed.

(Like my reviews for "Hikaru No Go," "Gankutsuou," and "Ghost Stories," this review is based off of the first episode of IGPX)"

IGPX: A Piece of Modern-Day anime history

The Moogleking | 01/09/2006

(5 out of 5 stars)

"Athough IGPX has only been aired for a few months, I have not missed an episode yet. When I first heard the name "IGPX" mentioned in the Toonami lineup, I thought I was going to see a series adaptation of the Robot-Fighting Battle Royale OAV that Toonami aired once in the late 90's. I was wrong.

What I saw was the first TV anime I can call flawless. Thanks to the superb 2D/3D CGI animation by Production I.G. (similar to what Gonzo Studios did with the anime landmark Blue Submarine No. 6), the utterly amazing english voice cast, original and un-cliched storyline and the funky techno soundtrack, IGPX has made it to my all-time favorite anime collection, sitting alongside Miyazaki. The only recorded IGPX episode I have is the promotional DVD that came with my Nintendo Power magazine, and I can't wait to get my hands on the uncut version."